Foamcore question

Slin · Post by **Slin** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:48 am

hey guys,

I'm making a MagLev train for my schoolproject, but I need a lightweight material for the train, so I though foamcore would work, but I have no clue of where to get it, could you guys help me ?

Thanks

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:23 am

Well...drafting supply stores might have it, art and picture framing store sometimes carry it. Sorry that I can't be more specific.

USSARCADIA · Post by **USSARCADIA** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:14 pm

Michael's carries it, and Walmart has limited colors in it too.

Paulbo · Post by **Paulbo** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:55 am

A good (or even semi-good) art supply store will carry it in 1/4" and 1/8" thickness. Staples/Office Depot/Office Max carry it in colors, and even have it with adhesive backing.

Note on the adhesive stuff - it stinks! Don't bother with it if you're trying to skin your model. You're better off getting some film adhesive or Super77.

When do we get to see pictures?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:14 am

Any decent wood glue will work. Something alogn the lines of Gorilla Glue or Titebond.

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:26 am

If foamcore is that stuff with cardboard on each side I'd be cautious with Gorilla Glue, or any urethane glue. One part has to be wet, or at least damp (I've found slightly wetter than damp works better) which cardboard doens't like being. I'd go for WeldBond, the makers say it's not PVA, but a resin based glue, I can tell ya, it's strong as hell.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:10 am

I've used Elmers, Elmer's Carpenders glue, Gorilla, and TiteBond on foamcore. The cardboard over the foam is treated pretty serously for a vasriety of glues. You do need to avoid glopping too much on, which can cause the cardboard to swell a bit.

Slin · Post by **Slin** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:38 am

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll see if my local craft store has any.

GYSGT Hartman · Post by **GYSGT Hartman** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:50 am

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/to ... el2001.jpg

I LOVE foamcore.

Here I am using it to build an architectural model of an old abandoned Radar site in Montana.

The foamcore forms the basis of the structure and I'm using actual photos of the exterior of the real structure corrected to the proper perspective in Photoshop.

To glue, I simply use aliphatic resin ( carpenter's glue ), reinforced with sharp round toothpicks as locator pins into the base.

Foamcore is wonderful stuff.

rocketrider · Post by **rocketrider** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:34 pm

If your looking for large sheets (4' x 8") sign supply shops like www.wensco.com carry it. They might be able to direct you to a local distributor

I think its like $9-$12 a sheet.

Glen

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:08 pm

If you want to lighten your project even further, try peeling the paper off one of the sides of the foam core board (the inside, so that no one will see it) and you'll save some weight.

star-art · Post by **star-art** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:42 pm

Ressurecting an old thread. If you want your project to be virtually guaranteed to WARP, use foamcore. It will warp if you give it so much as a stern look.

If you want your assemblies to be light, strong, and dimensionally stable, use Gatorboard instead. This stuff is slightly heavier, more expensive, and very difficult to cut. But it's extremely strong (at least 10 times stronger than foamcore) and so dimensionally stable I use it in place of plywood. Laser cuts very nicely as well!

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:57 pm

The original Post was october 14, 2005. I imagine the project was already turned in. Yo, Slin, How was it?

Slin · Post by **Slin** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:56 pm

It's worked out great, the train was nice and light, the propeller was a bit of a hassle (i ended up using the prop from a 1/48 B-25

). Balancing the whole thing was troublesome too, but fortunaly on the turn in date, it worked perfectly and it zoomed along the track.

In the end I got an 8.3 for the project (8.3 out of 10)

Thanks for al of the advice guys